Timbuktu,
Chokeules and
Savillion are hip-hop's latest supergroup, coming together under
the moniker Swamp Thing, but they're not from Okefenokee.
In fact Canada is not a place I normally associate with brackish
waters, though Wikipedia claims there's a bog or two to be
found there. That being the case, I sincerely doubt any of them
are in Toronto, although there are plenty of movie theaters and
hip-hop clubs. Somewhere at the intersection of the two is
this group's inspiration, as their bio unapologetically claims
they are fans of "good rap and bad b-movies," and this "Swamp
Thing" clip would certainly fit comfortable into the latter half.

I can only believe most boys my age back then would go just
to see Adrienne Barbeau, a sexpot star of horror and science fiction
films, and not because DC Comics fans expected an accurate portrayal.
The film has achieved a certain level of cult classic status regardless,
and undoubtedly this Toronto trio would like "Creature Feature" to
achieve the same level. They don't necessarily expect this 13 track
album to be a commercial success on the level of "E.T.," but they'd
be happy with the profitability of your average "Toxic Avenger"
flick - not to mention the amount of devotees that Troma has. It's not
hard to picture them getting it right from the start on "123," a song
which embraces b-movies the same way Mystery Science Theater
lampooned them - with an affection for just how goofy it all is.

"What's that sound? Look it got disgustin again
Cause no more fuckin with the sound of Sav, Choke and Tim
It goes one, two, three - and a million
Timbuktu, Chokeules and Savillion
[...]
Relax out smokin a bag
Collectin records 'til they put my fuckin toe in a tag
Flow on some rag, bloodied up, period shit
I'm on some Eddie Murphy, +Delirious+ shit"

"Creature Feature" is peppered with monster movie clips and dialogue
throughout, and songs continually pay tribute to the theme by both title
and lyrics. "B-Movie Monsters" is a stomping Godzilla of a rap track,
bragging about "experiments gone awry" that are "energized with the
lightning like I'm Frankenstein." It's actually a common mistake to
confuse Frankenstein for Frankenstein's MONSTER but I
enjoy the beat and the samples scratched into the hook - Busta Rhymes
and Method Man among others - so I'm gonna let it slide. The reference
to "Creature From the Black Lagoon" was a nice touch too, as are
all the shoutouts to H.G. Wells on "Time Machine Massacre." It's
not all fantastic flicks though as "Reefer Vendetta" makes the odd
but successful choice of sampling "Leave it to Beaver" for its raps.

If you're familiar with the Canadian hip-hop scene, then the list
of guest stars on this album won't surprise you - Ghettosocks on
"The Damned," Wordburglar on "John Carpenter" and so on.
Savillion provides all the production, and Uncle Fester provides
all of the cuts. This is mostly successful for 48 minutes, although
occasional songs like "All About the Brains" and "Red Planet"
feel a little too much like Slaughterhouse and could probably pass for one of their
albums if you weren't listening closely. I could honestly hear
Joe Budden and Royce Da 5'9" freestyling over either with no
problem. To make a long story short though, while "Creature
Feature" doesn't blow me out of the water, it doesn't do anything
to make me want to turn it off or change the channel to another
monster movie. The theme is fine, the album doesn't break
new ground, but this group has an overall enjoyable chemistry.
It's worth a listen.